Paul Haggis’ House Arrest on Sexual Assault Charges Ended by Italian Judge

variety.com:

Paul Haggis’ 16-day house arrest in a hotel after being charged with sexual assault, his lawyer told news agencies. Haggis’ lawyer Michele Laforgia told The Associated Press that Haggis remains in Italy while prosecutors decide whether to pursue their investigation of whether he allegedly had sex with a woman without her consent over two days.The ruling was made by Puglia-based judge Vilma Gilli, who noted an “absence of constricting violent behavior” by Haggis and also a complex story that blurs the original judgment of house arrest, per Italian news agency ANSA.

Haggis and his alleged victim, understood to be a 28-year-old British woman, attended the courthouse in the Southern port city of Brindisi accompanied by their lawyers for the special evidence pre-trial hearing last week.

ANSA reported it was the first time accused and accuser came face to face since the alleged assault on June 15. Haggis, who won two Oscars for “Crash” and is also known for writing “Million Dollar Baby,” was arrested on June 19 after the alleged victim told police the director had engaged in non-consensual sex with her twice.

He has since appeared in court twice, with a judge ordering him to stay under house arrest in a nearby hotel. Haggis originally came to Italy to attend the Allora Fest film festival, which he was involved in organizing and where he was due to hold a number of masterclasses, when the anonymous complainant flew in to join him.